Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC213V) claimed his first win of the season in confident style in blazing sunshine and in front of a huge crowd at Jerez today, making it two out of three so far this year for Honda, and reasserting himself in a World Championship battle that is already rich with tension.
Dani PEDROSA (Repsol Honda Team)zoomDani PEDROSA (Repsol Honda Team) Marc MARQUEZ (Repsol Honda Team)zoomMarc MARQUEZ (Repsol Honda Team)
With Texas winner Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda RC213V) claiming a very hard-fought second place, it was the second race in succession that Honda took the top two positions.
Pedrosa took the lead from fellow-Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) at the Dry Sack hairpin on the sixth of 27 laps, and was immediately able to secure a small but vital cushion, to win by 2.487 seconds. The last lap, he said, was particularly special, in front of 111,259 fervent Spanish fans.
He made it look easy, compared with his team-mate’s second place. Twenty-year-old Marquez had been fighting to find a way past Lorenzo mid-race and again in the closing laps. Every attack was repulsed, and when he did get in front the last time round Dry Sack, he directly ran wide, ceding the position once more.
The class rookie, who became the youngest-ever GP winner at Austin, Texas a fortnight before, wasn’t done yet.
At the final corner he saw a chink of space inside his rival, and dived straight into it. The pair touched, but Marquez had the inside line and was able to finish his corner, while Lorenzo was sent out wide, and had to accept third.
The same three riders were on the rostrum in Texas, with the order of the front two reversed.
Marquez’s third successive rostrum finish puts the youngster ahead at the top of the World Championship, with 61 points to Lorenzo’s 57; while Dani’s win moves him to second overall, one point clear of his Yamaha rival.
Conditions were hot and punishing, especially for the tyres, with all riders having to focus not only on racing their rivals but also trying to stay smooth, to avoid running out of grip in the closing laps. Pedrosa managed it best, able to run a fast but smooth pace, riding alone.
With Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow (both Yamaha) fourth and fifth the next-best Honda rider was sixth-placed Alvaro Bautista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini RC213V). He had been ahead of Crutchlow mid-race, and was barely two seconds adrift at the finish.
Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda RC213V) crashed out in the early stages, but Grand Prix rookie Bryan Staring (GO&FUN Honda Gresini FTR Honda) was just seven tenths of a second away from scoring a first point, finishing 16th after holding his own in a strong CRT battle aboard his CBR1000RR-powered machine. Staring was at the back of a tight four-strong group, but gained two places in the last lap for his best finish yet.
Esteve “Tito” Rabat (Tuenti HP 40 Pons Kalex) claimed a career first victory in the Honda-powered Moto2 class, qualifying on pole for the first time, leading into the first corner, and evading his pursuers with a series of blistering early laps. By the finish he was 4.261 seconds clear of second-placed Scott Redding (Marc VDS Kalex), who had held the position all race long. Rabat’s win gave him the World Championship lead over Redding by one point.
Second Tuenti HP 40 Pons Kalex rider Pol Espargaro took a hard-fought third to add to his victory in Qatar and regain third overall. He started off fourth and spent the rest of the race battling to catch Takaaki Nakagami (Italtrans Racing Team Kalex). He finally did so with two laps to go, and seized the last rostrum position when the Japanese rider ran wide after saving a near-crash on a corner exit. Nakagami was barely two tenths behind over the line.
Austin GP winner Nico Terol (Mapfre Aspar Team Suter) was fifth; while Xavier Simeon (Desguaces Le Torre Maptaq Kalex) triumphed by half a second in a strong fight with Jordi Torres (Mapfre Aspar Team Suter) for sixth.
For a second grand prix in succession, the Moto3 race was stopped early by a red flag after French rider Alan Techer (CIP Moto3 TSR Honda) crashed out and required track-side treatment. He suffered concussion, but escaped serious injury. This time more than two thirds of the 23 laps had been completed, so no restart was required. Results were taken from the lap before the crash, the 15th, with victory for Spanish KTM rider Maverick Vinales, by quarter of a second from compatriot Luis Salom (KTM) and Jonas Folger (Kalex KTM).
South African Brad Binder (Ambrogio Racing Suter Honda) claimed a brilliant career-best fourth place, heading a big group battling for the position and then escaping to finish three seconds clear of fifth place. Hopes of a possible rostrum were dashed by the red flag.
Italian Romano Fenati (San Carlo Team Italia FTR Honda) was the next best Honda rider, forging his way through the field from 17th on the first lap to ninth place, at the front of the next big group, and three tenths ahead of Alexis Masbou (Ongetta-Rivacold FTR Honda) and John McPhee (Caretta Technology-RTG FTR Honda). Danny Webb (Ambrogio Racing Suter Honda) was also in the points, in 13th.
Unluckiest of all was Australian Jack Miller (Caretta Technology-RTG FTR Honda), who was going strongly in the group disputing an eventual fourth. He had just crossed the line still at the front of the eight-strong gang when into the first corner he was touched from behind by Mahindra-mounted Miguel Oliveira, and both riders crashed. He was unhurt, but unable to restart.
After a day of testing at Jerez, the MotoGP World Championship moves on to Le Mans in France in two weeks, as the European season gathers momentum.
Dani PEDROSA (Repsol Honda Team)zoomDani PEDROSA (Repsol Honda Team) Alvaro BAUTISTA (GO&FUN Honda Gresini)zoomAlvaro BAUTISTA (GO&FUN Honda Gresini)
MotoGP
Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda: race winner“It was a beautiful race. I was able to ride the bike well, even though it was difficult because the tyres were really on the limit. I couldn’t push too hard because of that, so I had to ride carefully. I was able to maintain a good advantage throughout the race and collect this win at home as a result. It was fantastic, especially seeing all the fans in the stands; this year we’ve had a lot of people come to watch this Grand Prix. I also want to say ‘Happy Mothers Day’ to my mum and thanks to all my team; it’s been a great day!”Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda: 2nd“It was a very good race. I gave 100 percent from the first lap through to the last. At some points in the race I felt better than at others, but I never gave up. I tried to stick as close as possible to Lorenzo, although it was very difficult. I couldn’t quite close the gap, but I didn’t let him get away either. It was a very hard race, because if you get one or two seconds difference between you, you relax a bit. I didn’t relax though, and I am very happy. I think that, above all, the end of the race was really good for the fans. I want to apologise to Jorge, because it was a racing incident – a last lap move that happens when you are on the limit. The most important thing is that we both finished the race, and I hope that that’s the end of it.”Alvaro Bautista, Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini: 6th“That was a long and hard race because of the heat, which made it tough on the tyres. I didn’t get the best start and lost two positions, which I was able to make up although it was when I closed down on the group ahead of me that we started to struggle for grip. It is basically the same problem we have been having all weekend but I also started to have some problems with the front, which wasn’t allowing me to get on the gas as I wanted. Anyway, we gave 100 percent and it’s a positive result that gives us something to build on in the test tomorrow. I want to thank the team and sponsors for their continued support.”Bryan Staring, GO&FUN Honda Gresini: 16th“It goes without saying that I am happy with my best result so far in MotoGP. At the start of the race I was struggling a bit but then I got into my rhythm and found the confidence to push. I am still gaining experience in this class and I think we are on the right track to start making big improvements. It’s a shame to miss out on the points but I am determined to get there soon and I am sure that with the help of the team, who continue to offer great support, we will do it soon.”Stefan Bradl, LCR Honda MotoGP: DNF“Basically we were not able to fix our problems throughout the weekend and even today I could not ride the bike in a smooth way. I crashed early on because, since the beginning of the race, I could not push the front and this overall package did not suit my riding style. This tough weekend ended with a crash and I feel sorry for everybody. We must forget this race and go ahead working hard for Le Mans GP.”
Moto2
Esteve Rabat, Tuenti HP 40 Pons: race winner“I am very happy. We worked very well this weekend, from the start. I could make a good lap time for one lap, but also get a good rhythm for the race. I knew it I got a good start and no-one passed me in the first laps, then I try to get away. My mechanics were telling me ‘plus 0.6’ and ‘plus 0.7’, so I pushed and pushed and I was able to make a gap, and then I could go at my own pace.”Scott Redding, Marc VDS Racing Team: 2nd“It was a strange race. I’m full of a cold at the moment, so the fact that it just got hotter as the race progressed meant I was fatiguing towards the end. At the start Rabat managed to creep away; it was just one or two tenths a lap, but it was enough to pull away. I tried to go with him, but it was feeling a little bit risky so I backed off to do my pace, that I knew I could maintain. It worked out pretty well. The tyres were spinning up a bit, but my lap times were okay, it’s just that Rabat was quicker today and I just have to accept that. I’m happy to be on the podium again.”Pol Espargaro, Tuenti HP 40 Pons: 3rd“I am not happy. Of course it is normally impossible to win every race, but we had some new problems and that is why I was behind Tito. The whole weekend was not good, but in the race I could go a couple of tenths faster, but when the heat came up the bike was sliding a lot. I think we need to do something with set-up. We are not able to use the tyres well and we have the same tyres for the whole year, so we have to change something.”
Moto3
Brad Binder, Ambrogio Racing: 4th“Just after the start, I was in a big group. We were eight, I believe. I didn’t want to waste my tires at the beginning, so I waited. At a point, I realized that I could be faster than the others, half a second faster, and so decided to take the lead and tried to open a gap – two seconds, and maintaining it. The first group, at that point, was well ahead, and I could see them only on the straight, but the gap seemed to get smaller and smaller, lap by lap. Then – the red flag. You never know what can happen to people fighting for the victory. Perhaps even the podium could have been up for grabs... but it’s OK: I’m more than happy.”Romano Fenati, San Carlo Team Italia: 9th“The race was beautiful. I came through from 18th on the grid; I fought a lot with some of the best riders, and I made a lot of overtakes. It was very much fun. The bike was not so bad today. I will try to keep on doing better at the next races, and especially to qualify closer to the front for even better results.”Alexis Masbou. Ongetta-Rivacold: 10th“It was a difficult race, but very enjoyable. I was in a big group of riders, and though it was tough it was fun. I qualified 13th and finished the first lap in the same position, so that was okay. We were all battling, then with four laps to go after a couple of riders crashed ahead of me I was able to take some advantage of the confusion. I was up to ninth, then Fenati got ahead of me, and in the end beat me by a few tenths.”
Dani PEDROSA (Repsol Honda Team) & Marc MARQUEZ (Repsol Honda Team)zoomDani PEDROSA (Repsol Honda Team) & Marc MARQUEZ (Repsol Honda Team)
MotoGP World Championship Grand Prix
Round 03: Spain
MotoGP
Rank
Rider (Team)
1 Dani PEDROSA (Repsol Honda Team)
2 Marc MARQUEZ (Repsol Honda Team)
3 Jorge LORENZO (Yamaha Factory Racing)
4 Valentino ROSSI (Yamaha Factory Racing)
5 Cal CRUTCHLOW (Monster Yamaha Tech 3)
6 Alvaro BAUTISTA (GO&FUN Honda Gresini)
7 Nicky HAYDEN (Ducati Team)
8 Andrea DOVIZIOSO (Ducati Team)
9 Aleix ESPARGARO (Power Electronics Aspar)
10 Bradley SMITH (Monster Yamaha Tech 3)
11 Michele PIRRO (Ducati Test Team)
12 Hector BARBERA (Avintia Blusens)
13 Michael LAVERTY (Paul Bird Motorsport)
14 Danilo PETRUCCI (Came IodaRacing Project)
15 Colin EDWARDS (NGM Mobile Forward Racing)
Moto2
Rank
Rider (Team)
1 Esteve RABAT (Tuenti HP 40)
2 Scott REDDING (Marc VDS Racing Team)
3 Pol ESPARGARO (Tuenti HP 40)
4 Takaaki NAKAGAMI (Italtrans Racing Team)
5 Nicolas TEROL (Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2)
6 Xavier SIMEON (Desguaces La Torre Maptaq)
7 Jordi TORRES (Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2)
8 Dominique AEGERTER (Technomag carXpert)
9 Toni ELIAS (Blusens Avintia)
10 Marcel SCHROTTER (Desguaces La Torre SAG)
11 Thomas LUTHI (Interwetten Paddock Moto2 Rac)
12 Anthony WEST (QMMF Racing Team)
13 Johann ZARCO (Came Iodaracing Project)
14 Simone CORSI (NGM Mobile Racing)
15 Alex DE ANGELIS (NGM Mobile Forward Racing)
Moto3
Rank
Rider (Team)
1 Maverick VINALES (Team Calvo)
2 Luis SALOM (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
3 Jonas FOLGER (Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3)
4 Brad BINDER (Ambrogio Racing)
5 Jakub KORNFEIL (Redox RW Racing GP)
6 Niklas AJO (Avant Tecno)
7 Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
8 Efren VAZQUEZ (Mahindra Racing)
9 Romano FENATI (San Carlo Team Italia)
10 Alexis MASBOU (Ongetta-Rivacold)
11 John McPHEE (Caretta Technology - RTG)
12 Arthur SISSIS (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
13 Danny WEBB (Ambrogio Racing)
14 Jasper IWEMA (RW Racing GP)
15 Livio LOI (Marc VDS Racing Team)
Statistics: Posted by totalmotorcycle — Thu May 09, 2013 7:44 pm
Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/HyvNWiaqTSK/Daily+Motorcycle+News+Pedrosa+Wins+Marquez
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